Word-ly Thinking

Today I am pleased to be blogging about author Justin Matott. I have previously mentioned that we own many of his books, that I recently had the opportunity to work on his blog and now I get to bring everyone a really fun contest!

Justin has written books for all ages (adults included) but his admittedly goofy self loves to write children’s books. In his latest series he is really focusing on an Anti-Bullying message. He does so in such a fun and lighthearted way kids can’t help but get the message. Please take a minute to read some reviews from kids on his book Go Ask Mom –

Justin is offering an incredible chance to not only win one his books that he will personalize and autograph BUT also the winner could could potentially have their poem published in book 4 AS one written by the main character, Gabriel!!!

Poem? You ask what poem?

Well, my friends that is the challenge for this contest and I know with all the creativity flowing in bloggy land you will ALL rise to this challenge! Enlist your kids, Enlist your Students…Bring it on!

The rules are simple – oh so simple – All you have to do is write a 4 to 8 line poem about a gross food combination...

My own example:

Eggs and pickles
taste buds don't tickle
they give me gas
when they're in my glass

And, don't I wish
there were no fish
in the kitchen sink
cuz, they're also in my drink

There is a little catch…fine print if you would – we are really hoping to reach a ton of readers with this contest – you see Justin Matott is very well known and highly respected in our region but his awesomeness has not spread nationwide as of yet and he REALLY wants to get in front of Ellen DeGeneres and hopefully get to guest interview on her show to help spread the word about Anti-Bullying.

I don’t know Ellen…Do you? I didn’t think so…

So what we are asking is that as a part of the contest you post your entry on Your Blog and link back to mine and to Justin’s then come back here and post the URL for your entry in the comments section.

By doing so we are hoping all of your readers will be enticed to come and join in the fun too…our goal? It is lofty! We want 200 entries – on 200 blogs all across the USofA!

The contest will run for 2 weeks and close on Wednesday May 27th at 10pm MST – Justin will hand pick the winner and we will announce the winner, feature them on all our blogs and send the prize on Friday May 29th!

So get thinking – I know you can do this – I can’t wait to read what you write…

There is NO limit to the number of entries you can post…so each of your children can write, you can write, your significant other can write, heck if your dog can write…let him in on it too!

(on a side note, if you are a teacher and want to get your students involved email me and we will tell what we thought of to help facilitate this)

(great resource rhymezone.com)

What I learned this week

What I learned this week is hosted by JoLynn over at Musings of a Housewife (she has a Super giveaway on her reviewsing blog right now too - a desk top organizing system - check it out!)

I learned from my internet friend Laura that April is Poetry Month. I once fancied myself a poet. Actualy I still LOVE to write poems - I just don't have skills like the great! I thought in honor of poetry month I would share one of my all time favorites with you (the pros, not my own)

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
We Wear the Mask

WE wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

And this has been a favorite poem of mine for a VERY long time - so long in fact that when my brother was just about 10 he made this for me (twenty years ago)

Oh the memories.

Limerick Chick

****UPDATE**** Voting is open - head on over to vote on your favorite limerick!

Lori - at Weebles Wobblog is having a limerick contest! Anyone can play, any topic...swing on by and take part in the fun!

I have to preface this by saying I had to take a crash course in limerick writing because I couldn't remember the exact form...and in doing so I stumbled on a limerick about limericks explaining that the "clean" ones are boring...so I went for the gusto and I am SORRY (sort of):

There was a youngish mom of the blog
often she typed and wrote in a fog
exploiting her kin
much to their chagrin
for even the dead dog made the blog

Wordless Wednesday

Snowman Masterpiece

Beaver Creek 2004

Dare we try again

(that one was for you Laura)

Poetry Tag

Bonnie had a great post about her missing deck that started a flurry of comments and poems...I thought it would be fun to play a game of Poetry Tag...I will post the first 4 lines you all comment with 4 more (ignore others and just post your own 4 or more) and I will put them all together and post the final poem soon, very soon. Please play!

I haven't wrapped a present yet

I don't know when I will

My kids will surely faint, I bet

When the tree is empty still

GO!!


you can add 4 or more to it or make your own first 4 or more lines of a holiday poem - whatever feels right to you, just do it.